Velocipede construction



Aug. 4, 1925.

F. J. GRABOWSKI VELOCIPEDE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 12. 1924 Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

VELOCIPEDE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed. January 12, 1924.

' shafts in which the bearings will be selfaligning and will naturally assume a position in axial alignment with each other and with the supported element.

The invention further resides in a novel construction and arrangement of parts possessing material advantages over constructions of the same type now in common use.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the steering fork of a tricycle which constitutes the aforesaid mounting for the wheel;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the lower portion of the fork showing the axle of the wheel mounted therein;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating the details of the fork;

Fig. & is a view in perspective of one of the journals detached from the fork, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section through the lower end of one of the arms of the fork illustrating a modification I within the scope of the invention.

lVith reference to the drawings, 1 indicates the steering fork of a tricycle of well known form. Each of the arms of the fork 1 terminates in a socket 2, these socket-s being adapted for the reception of the cylindrical stems 3 of journal elements 4. The said journal elements t are retained in the sockets by means in the present instance of set screws or bolts 5 which are threaded into bosses 6 on the sockets 2 and which are adapted to enter the cylindrical recesses and bear against the stems 3 in a manner readily understood. The arrangement is such that when the bolts 5 are loosened, the journals are free for adjustment in the sockets to provide for axial alignment of the journals.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that at the base of the stems 3 the journals Serial No. 685,839.

4 are provided with a shoulder 7 which is adapted to abut the lower end of the sockets 2. The said journals 4i preferably comprise races for ball bearings after the usual fashion.

In assembling the parts, the journal elements at are detached from the fork and are passed over the ends of the axle 8 of the wheel, which axle in the present instance also comprises, as an integral part, the hub of the wheel. The stems 3 of the journal are then inserted in the sockets 2, and it will be apparent that such insertion automatically aligns the journals with the axle of the wheel so that no other adjustment of the journals and axle is necessary in order to insure the proper relative positions of these parts. The bolts 5, 5, are then tightened to secure the journals in the sockets.

It has been customary to secure the journal elements to the lower ends of the fork by means of bolts or other securing ele ments and in such manner as to make necessary the alignment of the journals by adjustment in the permanent structure of the fork. This arrangement not only tends to' a misalignment in the journals but also necessitates a considerable expenditure of time in the aligning operation. By means of the present construction therefore, I not only insure a proper alignment of the parts, which is very important for the durability of the apparatus and its efficient operation, but also I provide a construction which requires no adjustment of the parts into alignment and thereby saves a very considerable amount of time in assembling the parts. It will be noted further that by reason of the construction, there is no requirement for right and left castings for the journals, a single pattern being used. This effects an economy in manufacture.

In Figure 5, I have illustrated a modification within the scope of the invention, in which the socket is formed on the journal instead of at the end of the fork, as in the previously described embodiment. In this figure, the reference numeral 10 indicates the lower end of one of the arms of the fork, which in this instance is cylindrical in form. The journal members 11 in this instance are provided with a socket 12 at the top for the reception of the cylindrical lower ends of the fork, as clearly illustrated, and a set screw 5 is provided in the socket 12 in a manner similar to that illustrated in the aforedesoribed embodiment for retaining the journal elements on the fork. It is obvious that this embodiment has the 'same self-aligning characteristics of the aforedescril'ied embodiment.

Still other modifications are possible Without departure from the essential features of the invention, and it Will be apparent. that the invention in principle may find useful application beyond that illustrated.

I claim: 7

1. The combination With a supporting structure, of; spaced journal elements secured in said structure, an'element adapted to rotate in said: journals, and means providjng for the selfalijgnment; of said journals in the structure. 7 2. The combination With a supporting structure having spaced sockets, of journal elements mounted in said sockets and adjustable therein into mutual axial alignment, and an element adapted to rotate in said j ournals. V

3. In a wheeled vehicle, the combination with a' frame, of spaced journal elements adjustably mounted in said trame fior; mutual axial: alignment, and a member adapted to: rotate in said journals;

4. The combination with a supporting structure, of spaced journals. adjustably mounted insaid structure for mutual: axial alignment, releasable means for securing the said journals rigidly in said structure, and a member rotatable in said journals.

'5. The combination with a supporting structure having cylindrical sockets, of journal elements having cylindrical stems adapted to fit Within said sockets, and an element adapted to, rotate in said journals with its axis substantially at right angles to the longitudinal center line of said cylindrical sockets.

6. The combination with a supporting structure having cylindrical sockets, of 'ournal elements having cylindrical stems a apted to fit Within said sockets, set screws projecting into said sockets; and adapted to bear against the said stems tot-retain the journal elements and .a member rotatable" in said journals.

Til-n. a Wheeled vehicle, the vcombination with a fork, of a journal element adjustably mounted for axial alignment at the; bottom oi each of the arms of said fork, means for securing said journals rigidly to, the said arms, and an axle'rotatableinwthe journals.

8. The combination with a supporting structure, of a rotary element, journals in which said rotary element is: adapted tonro tate, and means for mounting saidjournals in thestructure so as to be: capable ofiiangular adjustment around an axis perpendicular to, the axis of the said rotary member,

9. The combination with a supporting structure, of journals mounted in saidlstru'cture and adapted for angular adjustment around an axis perpendicular tothelaxisof said journals, and a member adapted tol rojournals.

late in said FRANK J. 

